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PAPER  NO.  DXXX. 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND 

INDEX. 

By  Wm.  L.  Chase,  Worcester,  Mass. 

,,M  ,Y d II  I I 

presented  at 

THE  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING  SECTION 

— B — 


OF  THE 


WORLD’S  ENGINEERING  CONGRESS,  CHICAGO,  ILL.,  U.  S.  A. 


JULY,  1893. 


Accepted  by  tbe  Council  of  tlie  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers, 
and  forming  part  of  Volume  XIV.  of  the  Transactions. 


For  additional  copies,  address — 

No.  12  West  31st  Street, 

New  York  City,  N.  Y.,  U.  S.  A. 


* DXXX. 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND 

INDEX. 


BY  WM.  L.  CHASE,  WORCESTER,  MASS. 

Some  Possibilities  in  the  Extension  and  Use,  by  the  Engineer- 
ing Professions,  of  the  Dewey  Decimal  System. 

I have  long  had  a growing  impression  that  great  service  could 
be  rendered  by  some  general  and  uniform  system  of  classifying, 
for  preservation  and  reference,  notes,  memoranda,  clippings, 
trade  catalogues,  books,  periodical  articles,  etc.  This  feeling 
has  been  largely  fostered  by  Mr.  Melvil  Dewey’s  “Decimal 
Classification  and  Relative  Index,”  published  by  the  Library 
Bureau,  Boston.  A short  time  ago,  in  order  to  discover  whether 
my  leading  impression  and  Mr.  Dewey’s  book  had  conspired  to 
unbalance  me  on  the  subject,  or  whether  there  is  an  actual  need 
of  something  in  this  line,  I sent  to  a number  of  the  members  of 
this  Society,  and  to  a few  other  gentlemen,  a circular  letter 
soliciting  what  I thought  would  be  fairly  representative  opin- 
ions. While  the  result  as  to  the  main  issue  in  sending  out  the 
circular  is  perhaps  still  in  doubt,  I have  been  stimulated  to  pre- 
sent the  question  to  this  larger  audience,  satisfied  that  it  will 
at  least  promote  a healthful  discussion  of  the  need,  and  that, 
through  this  organization,  if  at  all,  may  be  supplied  whatever 
need  exists. 

It  was  made  evident  by  the  responses  to  my  circular  that  it 
will  be  necessary  to  give  here  a brief  description  of  the  Dewey 
system,  which  was  developed  chiefly  in  the  interest  of  library 
economy,  and  in  which  the  whole  field  of  knowledge  is  arbitrarily 
divided  into  nine  classes,  represented  by  the  Arabic  numerals  in 
hundreds  place,  namely : 

Philosophy,  100.  ; Religion,  200.  ; Sociology,  300.  ; Philol- 
ogy, 400. ; Natural  Science,  500. ; Useful  Arts,  600. ; Fine  Arts, 
700. ; Literature,  800.  ; History,  900. ; Cyclopaedias,  Periodicals? 
etc.,  too  general  in  character  to  fit  any  of  these  classes,  make  a 
tenth  class,  marked  000.  Each  class  is  divided  into  nine  or  less 

* Presented  at  the  Chicago  Meeting  (August,  1893)  of  the  American  Society  of 
Mechanical  Engineers,  and  forming  part  of  Volume  XIV.  of  the  Transactions. 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


divisions,  and  each  division  into  nine  or  less  sections,  repre- 
sented respectively  by  the  numerals  in  tens  and  units  places. 
Subdivision  is  further  carried  out  decimally  to  such  an  extent 
as  may  be  necessary  to  define  any  desired  minute  classification 
of  a subject.  Naught  in  each  place,  division,  section,  etc.,  holds 
its  normal  power,  and  signifies  that  the  material  so  marked  is 
too  general  to  be  subdivided.  Mr.  Dewey’s  classification  tables 
occupy  in  his  fourth  edition  360  6^"x  9-J-"  pages.  Supplementing 
the  tables  are  186  pages  devoted  to  a relative  subject  index, 
which  contains  more  than  20,000  alphabetically  arranged  refer- 
ences to  the  heads,  subheads,  etc.,  contained  in  the  tables, 
including  synonymous  and  alternative  names,  catch  titles,  etc. , 
with  the  classification  number  of  each,  giving  its  exact  place  in 
the  tables. 

To  index  and  file  an  item,  it  is  marked  with  its  classification 
number  and  placed  in  the  numerical  order  thus  indicated  in  the 
collection  which  it  joins.  To  find  an  item,  the  subject  index  is 
consulted  for  the  classification  mark,  which  gives  the  numerical 
place  in  the  collection  of  all  the  items  the  collection  contains 
under  the  head  sought.  The  items  under  each  head  may  be 
arranged  alphabetically  by  authors  or  titles,  and,  if  the  collec- 
tion is  large  enough  to  require  it,  the  items  may  be  alphabeti- 
cally indexed  under  any  head,  though  generally  the  items  them- 
selves, properly  arranged,  furnish  their  own  index. 

Notwithstanding  the  generous  proportions  to  which  the  latest 
edition  of  Mr.  Dewey’s  book  has  brought  his  work,  it  must  be 
changed  in  some  headings  under  engineering  and  greatly  extended 
to  fit  it  for  general  use.  In  a limited  way  I have  attempted 
to  expand  some  of  Mr.  Dewey’s  tables  under  that  subject  for  my 
own  use.  In  doing  this  I have  come  more  and  more  to  believe 
in  the  possible  usefulness  of  the  scheme,  in  some  degree,  to  all 
concerned.  The  degree  of  that  usefulness  depends  upon  the 
amount  and  character  of  the  interest  which  can  be  brought  to 
the  support  of  the  work  of  perfecting  the  tables.  It  is  my  pur- 
pose at  this  time  to  invite  discussion  of  the  advisability  of 
undertaking,  through  a competent  committee  or  otherwise,  to 
make  a general  classification  of  engineering  by  experts  in  the 
several  departments.  With  this  object  in  view  I shall  present, 
first,  in  illustration  of  the  Dewey  plan,  the  divisions  under  the 
sixth  class,  Useful  Arts ; the  sections  under  the  second  or 
engineering  division  of  that  class,  and  some  of  the  decimal  sub- 


4 A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 

divisions  of  the  first  or  mechanical  engineering  section  of  that 
division  : and  second,  in  illustration  of  what  I have  attempted 
to  do  in  extending  Mr.  Dewey’s  work,  the  corresponding  decimal 
subdivisions  of  my  extended  tables,  with  the  relative  subject 
index  covering  the  same.  Following  these  I shall  endeavor  to 
point  out  some  of  the  merits  of  the  system  and  some  of  the  ends 
that  it  seems  to  me  can  be  served  by  extending  it. 

The  following  heads  are  given  as  they  stand  in  Mr.  Dewey’s 
fourth  edition : 


600.  Useful  Arts. 

601.  Philosophy.  Theories,  etc. 

(502.  Compends.  Outlines. 

603.  Dictionaries.  Cyclopedias. 

604.  Essays.  Lectures.  Addresses. 

605.  Periodicals.  Magazines.  Reviews. 

606.  Societies.  Fairs.  Exhibitions. 

607.  Education.  Schools  of  Technology. 

Divided  Geographically  like  History  Tables. 

608.  Patents.  Inventions. 

609.  History  of  Useful  Arts  in  General. 

610.  Medicine. 

620.  Engineering. 

.01,  Statistics  ; .02,  Quantities  and  Cost  : .03,  Contracts  and  Specifications  ; 
.04,  Designs  and  Drawings  ; .05,  Executive  ; .06,  Working  and 
Maintenance  ; .07,  Law's  ; .08,  Patents  ; .09,  Reports. 

.1,  Strength  of  Materials  ; .2,  Compends;  .3,  Dictionaries,  Cyclopedias? 
.4,  Essays  ; .5,  Periodicals  ; .6,  Societies  ; .7,  Study  and  Teaching  ; 
.8,  Tables  and  Calculations  ; .9,  History  of  Engineering. 

621.  Mechanical  Engineering. 

.1  Steam  Engineering.  ( See  536.81.) 

.11  Mechanism  of  Steam  Engine. 

.12  Marine  Engines  and  Ship  Propulsion.  (See  699.) 

.13  Locomotive  Engines. 

.14  Traction  Engines. 

.15  Portable  Engines. 

.16  Stationary  Engines. 

.17 

.18  Steam  Generation.  Boilers.  Furnaces. 

.19  Steam  Heating.  (See  697,  536.83,  628.8,  644.) 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


5 


621. 

.2  Water  Engines  or  Motors. 

.21  Water  Wheels.  (See  532.84.) 

.22  Overshot  and  Breast  Wheels. 

.23  Undershot  Wheels. 

.24  Turbines. 

.25  Water  Pressure  Engines.  ( See  532.82.) 

.26  Hydraulic  Presses.  ( See  532.81.) 

.27  Hydraulic  Ratn.  ( See  532.83.) 

.28 

.29  Mill  Dams,  Sluices,  etc.  (See  627.8.) 

• 4 Air  and  Gas  Engines  and  Other  Motors, 

.41  Caloric  Engines. 

.42  Compressed  Air  Engines. 

.43  Ignited  Gas  Engines.  (See  536.82.) 

.44  Binary  Vapor  Engines. 

.45  Windmills. 

.46  Animal  Motors.  Tread  Mills. 

.47  Solar  Engines. 

.5  Air  Compressors.  Ice  Machines. 

.6  Blowing  and  Pumping  Engines. 

.61  Piston  Blowers. 

.62  Rotary  Blowers.  Fans. 

.63  Centrifugal  Blowers. 

.64  Steam  Pumps  and  Pumping  Engines. 

.65  Piston  Pumps. 

.66  Rotary  Pumps. 

.67  Centrifugal  Pumps. 

.63  Fire  Engines.  (See  353.3,  Fire  Department  ; 614.81,  Fires.) 

622.  Mining  Engineering. 

623.  Military  and  Naval  Engineering. 

624.  Bridges  and  Roofs. 

625.  Railroad  and  Road  Engineering. 

626.  Canal  Engineering. 

627.  River,  Harbor,  and  General  Hydraulic  Engineering. 

628.  Sanitary  Engineering. 

629.  Other  Branches  of  Engineering. 

630.  Agriculture. 

640.  Domestic  Economy,  Hotels,  Flats. 

650.  Communication  and  Commerce. 

660.  Chemical  Technology. 

669.  Metallurgy  and  Assaying. 

670.  Manufactures. 


6 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


680.  Mechanic  Trades. 

690.  Building. 

The  following  examples  are  taken  from  my  draught  of  the  ex- 
tended tables,  in  which,  to  avoid  confliction  with  the  published 
signification  of  the  decimals  I have  employed  the  letter  E,  to 
represent  Mechanical  Engineering  instead  of  Mr.  Dewey’s  num- 
ber 621. 

E .1  Steam  Engineering. 

.11  Theory  and  general  practice. 

.Ill  Steam  economy. 

.1111  Systems,  Instruments  and  Records  of  measurements  and  tests  of 
engines  and  boilers. 

.1112  Expansion,  Superheating,  Jacketing,  Cylinder  condensation,  etc. 
Simple,  Compound,  and  Multi-cylinder  efficiency. 

High  pressure  efficiency. 

.1113  Boiler  economy. 

Feed-water  heaters,  Filters,  Purifiers,  Fuel  economizers. 

Back  pressure  relieving  and  feed-water  heating  apparatus. 

Exhaust  steam  purifiers,  Oil  separators,  etc. 

Boiler  and  tube  cleaners. 

Life,  deterioration,  etc..  Corrosion,  Incrustation,  Scale. 

.1114  Steam  m.  Water  power. 

.112  Dangers,  Accidents,  Engine  failures,  Boiler  explosions. 

.119  Lubricators,  Revolution  counters  and  registers. 

.12  Marine  steam  engineering. 

Steamship  propulsion. 

Paddle,  screw,  hydraulic. 

Marine  engines. 

Paddle,  screw. 

Simple,  compound,  triple,  etc.,  cylinder. 

Non-condensing,  oondensing.  (Surface  ; jet.) 

.13  Steam  locomotive  engineering. 

Locomotive  engines. 

Traction  and  portable  engines. 

Steam  road  machines,  rollers,  etc. 

.15  Steam  blowing,  compressing,  and  pumping  machinery. 

.152  Blowing  engines. 

.153  Steam  air  compressors  and  Refrigerating  machinery. 

.154  Steam  fire  engines  and  pumps. 

Portable,  installed. 

Direct  piston  engines  and  pumps. 

Piston  engines  and  rotary  pumps. 

.155  Steam  water  works  and  sewage  pumping  engines. 

Direct  piston. 

Direct  crank. 

Crank  and  beam. 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


7 


Simple,  compound,  triple,  etc.,  cylinder. 

Non-condensing,  condensing.  (Surface  ; jet.) 

.156  General  steam  pumping  machinery. 

.1561  Boiler  feed,  Tank,  and  Pressure  pumps,  Injectors,  etc. 

.1562  Vacuum  and  Circulating  pumps,  Sugar  pumps. 

Condensing  apparatus  pumps. 

.1563  Mining,  Wrecking,  Sinking,  and  Deep  well  pumps. 

.16  Stationary  steam  engines. 

.162  Plain  slide  valve  engines. 

Horizontal,  vertical. 

.163  Automatic  shaft  governor  engines. 

Horizontal,  vertical. 

Simple,  compound,  triple,  etc.,  cylinder. 

Non-condensing,  condensing.  (Surface  ; jet.) 

.164  Releasing  valve  gear  engines  (Corliss  type). 

Horizontal,  vertical. 

Simple,  compound,  triple,  etc.,  cylinder. 

Non-condensing,  condensing.  (Surface  ; jet.) 

.165  Single  acting  double  cylinder  engines. 

Vertical. 

Simple  and  compound  cylinder. 

Non-condensing,  condensing.  (Surface  ; jet.) 

.166  Steam  turbines,  Rotary  engines,  etc. 

.167  Special  direct  connected  steam  engines  and  machinery. 

Rolling  mill  engines. 

Steam  dynamos. 

Hoisting,  conveying,  and  elevator  engines. 

(See  Ropeways,  Hoisting  machinery,  etc.,  E .86.) 

Steam  shovels  and  dredges. 

Steam  hammers.  (See  Forging,  E .95.) 

E .18  Steam  generation  and  transmission. 

.182  Steam  boilers. 

.1821  General  practice,  Construction,  Riveted  joints,  Staying,  Bracing,  etc. 
.1822  Marine  boilers. 

Tubular,  Scotch. 

.1823  Locomotive,  Traction,  and  Portable  boilers. 

.1826  Stationary  boilers  and  settings. 

Internally  fired  boilers  : Fire-box,  Vertical. 

Cornish,  Lancashire,  Galloway,  Scotch. 

Externally  fired  boilers. 

Plain  cylinder,  Return  flue,  Return  tubular,  French,  Water-tube, 
Sectional. 

Boiler  settings. 

Fronts,  Grate  bars,  Braces,  Arch  bars,  Walls. 

.183  Boiler  fittings. 

Water  gauges,  Cocks,  Low-water  alarms. 

.184  Mechanical  stokers,  Coal  and  ash  conveyers. 

Oil  feed  apparatus,  Burners,  etc. 

Damper  regulators. 

.185  Steam  transmission  and  distribution 


8 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


.1851  General  matter. 

Flow  of  steam  in  pipes,  Condensation,  Velocity,  Friction  loss  etc. 
.1852  Central  station  steam  transmission  and  distribution,  Street  mains, 
Conduits,  etc. 

Steam  fittings,  Piping,  Valves,  Coverings,  Packing,  Pressure  regu- 
lators, Indicating  and  Recording  pressure  gauges,  Traps,  Steam 
loop,  Exhaust  heads. 

Steam  Heating.  {See  697.,  Heating  and  Ventilation  of  Buildings.) 
Heating  systems. 

Live,  exhaust. 

Direct  and  indirect  radiation. 

Central  coil  and  forced  air  blast. 

.2  Hydraulic  Engineering. 

.21  Theory  and  general  practice. 

.211  Water  power  economy. 

.2111  Systems,  Instruments  and  Records  of  measurements  and  tests  of 
Water  power.  Water  wheels,  Motors,  etc. 

.2115  Water  supply.  {See  Water  Works,  Sanitary  Engineering.) 

Flow  of  rivers,  Volume,  Constancy,  etc. 

Reservoirs  and  storage. 

Measurement  of  water  flow,  Weirs,  Tumbling  bays,  etc. 

Artesian  wells,  Well-boring  machinery. 

.212  Dangers,  Accidents,  etc. 

.22  Marine  hydraulic  engineering. 

.221  Power,  Utilization  of  ocean  waves. 

Hydraulic  dock  machinery.  {See  E .28, Hydraulic  power  utilization.) 
Hydraulic  ship  propulsion.  {See  E .12,  Marine  steam  engineering.) 
.23  Mill  Dams,  Bulkheads,  Penstocks,  etc. 

.232  Mill  dams. 

.233  Bulkheads,  Gates  and  fittings. 

.234  Penstocks. 

.235  Sluices,  Tail  Races,  Fish-ways,  etc. 

.24  Water  wheels,  Motors,  etc. 

.242  Overshot  and  Breast  wheels. 

.243  Undershot  and  Jet  wheels. 

.244  Turbine  wheels. 

.2441  Fourneyron,  or  Outward  discharge. 

.2442  Jonval,  or  Downward  discharge. 

.2443  American,  or  Inward  discharge. 

.245  Water  motors,  Water  pressure  engines,  Water  meters. 

.25  Hydraulic  pumping  machinery.  {See  E .15,  Steam  pumps,  etc.; 

E .35,  Electric  pumps.) 

.252  Hand  pumps,  Hydraulic  rams,  etc. 

.253  Power  hydraulic  pressure  pumps.  Accumulators,  etc. 

.254  Power  fire  pumps,  Hand  fire  engines. 

.256  General  power  pumping  machinery. 

.2561  Power  boiler  feed  and  Tank  pumps,  Centrifugal  pumps. 

.2562  Power  vacuum  pumps. 

.2563  Power  wrecking  pumps,  Ejectors,  Power  deep  well  pumps,  etc. 

.26  Hydraulic  power  utilization. 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


9 


.261  General  matter. 

.262  Dock  machinery.  ( See  E .221,  Marine  liydrauli^"  engineering.) 

Elevators,  Hoists,  Charging  apparatus,  Presses'  Buffers,  Forging 
and  Riveting.  ( See  E .95.) 

.285  Hydraulic  transmission  and  distribution. 

.2851  General  matter.  Plow  of  Water  in  Pipes,  Friction  loss,  Discharge 
orifices.  Hose  and  Nozzles,  Water  hammer. 

.2852  Central  station  hydraulic  power  transmission  and  distribution. 
Street  mains,  Conduits,  etc. 

.4  Hydraulic  fittings,  Piping,  Valves,  Packing,  Pressure  regulators, 
Indicating  and  Recording  pressure  gauges,  etc. 

.4  Heat,  Air,  Gas,  and  Oil  Engineering. 

.41  Theory  and  general  practice. 

.411  Gas,  Oil,  and  Heat  economy. 

Systems,  Instruments  and  Records  of  measurements  and  tests  of 
; Heat  and  its  effects. 

Gas  and  oil  as  fuel,  Illuminants,  etc. 

Lubricating  oils,  Oil  testing  machines. 

Coal  vs.  Water  gas,  etc. 

Thermometers,  Pyrometers  and  temperatures,  Calorimeters. 

.412  Dangers,  Accidents,  Explosions,  etc. 

.48  Aerial  navigation. 

Balloons,  Flying  machines,  Air  ships. 

.44  Heat,  Air,  and  Gas  engines. 

.441  Theories,  General  matter. 

.442  Solar  engines. 

.448  Hot  air  engines. 

.444  Compressed  air  engines,  Rock  drills,  etc. 

.445  Gas  engines,  Vapor  engines. 

.446  Windmills,  Wind  engiues,  etc. 

.45  Power  air  pumps  and  machinery. 

.452  Positive  blowers,  Pressure  blowers. 

.453  Power  air  compressors. 

.456  Fan  blowers,  Exhausters,  etc. 

.48  Heat,  Air,  Gas,  and  Oil  production,  Distribution,  etc. 

.481  Production  and  Application  of  heat,  Combustion. 

Fuels,  comparative  efficiency. 

Furnaces,  general. 

Smoke  consumption,  prevention. 

Chimneys  and  Forced  draught. 

Chimney  construction,  Stability,  Duty,  etc. 

Heating  and  ventilating.  ( See  697,  Heating  and  Ventilating 
Buildings,  and  E .1852,  Steam  Heating.) 

Drying  and  Evaporation. 

Dry  kilns  and  apparatus. 

Evaporating  apparatus. 

Annealing,  Hardening,  and  Tempering. 

Annealing  and  Case  hardening  furnaces, 
apparatus  aud  materials. 

.482  Gas  manufacture. 

Plants,  Retorts,  Producers,  Purifiers,  Condensers,  Storage,  etc. 


10 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


.483  Natural  gas  and  oil. 

l^ells,  Well  boring  and  machinery. 

.484  Oil  producing,  Refining,  Purifying,  etc. 

Oil  presses,  Stills,  Filters,  Purifiers,  etc. 

.485  Heat,  air,  gas,  and  oil  transmission  and  distribution. 

.4851  General  matter. 

Flow  of  air,  gas,  and  oil  in  pipes,  Velocity,  Friction  loss,  Conden- 
sation, etc. 

.4852  Central  station  Air,  Gas,  and  Oil  transmission  and  distribution. 

Street  mains,  Conduits,  etc. 

Compressed  air  power  transmission. 

Pneumatic  despatch  apparatus. 

Natural  gas  and  oil  pipe  lines,  etc. 

Air,  gas,  and  oil  piping,  Fittings,  Valves,  Packing,  Pressure  regu- 
lators, Indicating  and  Recording  pressure  gauges,  etc. 

Dust  and  shavings  collectors,  Separators,  Piping,  Hoods,  etc. 

The  following  is  the  relative  subject  index  covering  the  ex- 
tended tables  given  above  : 

Absorption  dynamometers E .111  ;E  .211 

Accidents. 

Boiler  and  engiue E .112 

Gas,  oil,  and  heat E .412 

General E .012 

Hydraulic E .212 

Annealing E .481 

Artesian  wells E .2115 

Asbestos  packing E .1852 

Ash  conveyers,  boiler E .184 

Boiler.  (See  Steam  Boiler.) 

Breast  water  wheels E .242 

Bulkheads E .283 

Calorimeters E .1111  ; E .411 

Case  hardening E ,481 

Centrifugal  pumps E .2561 

Chimneys E .481 

Circulating  pumps E .1562 

Coal  and  ash  conveyers,  boiler E .184 

Coal  vs.  Water  gas E .411 

Combustion E .481 

Compressed  air  engines,  Rock  drills,  etc E .444 

pipe  fittings E .4852 

power  transmission E .4852 

pressure  regulators E .4852 

Condensation  in  gas  pipes E .4851 

steam  cylinder E .1112 

pipes E .1851 

pipes,  general  E .0851 

Conduits. 

Air,  gas  and  oil E .4852 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


11 


Conduits. — Continued. 

General E .0852 

Steam E .1852 

Water E .2852 

Current  meters E .2115 

Damper  regulators,  steam  boiler E .184 

Dangers. 

Boiler  and  engine . E .112 

Gas,  oil  and  heat E .412 

Hydraulic E .212 

Deep  well  pumps,  Steam E .1568 

Power 2568 

Dock  machinery,  hydraulic E .262 

Drying E .481 

Dry  kilns E .481 

Dust  and  shavings  collectors E .4852 

Duty  of  boilers  and  engines E .1111 

chimneys E .481 

heat,  gas  and  oil E .411 

Water  power,  wheels,  motors E .211 

Dynamometers E .1111  ;E  .211 

Economy. 

Boiler .E  .1111  ;E  .181 

Heat,  gas  and  oil E .411 

Gas E .411 

Oil E .411 

Efficiency. 

High-pressure  steam E .1112 

Steam  vs.  Waterpower E .1114 

Water  power  and  Water  wheel E .2111 

Engines. 

Air E .44 

Gas E .445 

Heat E .44 

Hydraulic E .245 

Solar E .442 

Steam.  {See  Steam  Engines.) 

Vapor E .445 

WTind E .446 

Water  pressure E .245 

Engineering. 

Air,  heat,  gas,  and  oil E .4 

Hydraulic E .2 

Steam E .1 

Evaporating E .481 

Expansion  of  steam E .1112 

Explosions. 

Boiler. E .112 

Fly  wheel E .112 

Gas E .412 

General E .012 


12 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


Fan  blowers  and  exhausters 

Feed  water  filters,  heaters  and  purifiers. . . 

Fisli- ways 

Flow  of  air,  gas,  and  oil  in  pipes 

rivers 

steam  in  pipes 

water  in  pipes 

Fly-wheel  failures 

Forced  draught 

Fourneyron  turbine  water  wheels 

Friction  brakes 

Fuel  economizers 

Fuels,  gas  and  oil  economy 

comparative  efficiency 

Furnaces,  general 

Gas  condensers 

distribution 

economy 

explosions 

fiow.in  pipes 

manufacture 

natural 

plants 

producers 

purifiers 

storage 

transmission 

wells 

Hand  fire  engines 

pumps 

Hardening 

Heat  calorimeters,  Calorimetry 

economy 

engineering , 

engines 

pyrometers 

tests,  instruments,  etc 

Hook  gauges 

Horizontal  engines.  ( See  Steam  Engines.) 

Hose  and  nozzles 

Hydraulic  accidents 

buffers 

charging  apparatus 

dock  machinery 

elevators 

engineering 

fittings 

forging  ....  

hoists 

packing 

piping 


.E  Am 
.E  .111S 
.E  .235 
.E  .4851 
.E  .2115 
.E  .1851 
.E  .2851 
.E  .112 
.E  .481 
.E  .2441 

E .1111;  E .2111 
.E  .1113 
.E  .411 
.E  .481 
.E  .481 
.E  .482 
.E  .4852 
.E  .411 
.E  .412 
.E  .4851 
.E  .482 
.E  .483 
.E  .482 
.E  .482 
.E  .482 
.E  .482 
.E  .4852 
.E  .483 
.E  .254 
.E  .252 
.E  .481 
.E  .411 
.E  .411 
.E  .4 
.E  .44 
.E  .411 
.E  .411 
.E  .2111 

.E  .2851 
.E  .212 
.E  .262 
.E  .262 
.E  .262 
E .262 
.E  .2 
.E  .2852 
.E  .95  ; E .262 
.E  .262 
.E  .2852 
.E  .2852 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


13 


Hydraulic  power  transmission E .2852 

presses E .262 

pressure  gauges  E .2852 

pressure  regulators E .2852 

rams E .252 

riveting . . . .E  .95  ; E .262 

ship  propulsion  E .12;  E .221 

valves E .2852 

Illuminants,  gas  and  oil  economy E .411 

Incrustation,  boiler E .1118 

Instruments  of  testing  boilers  and  engines E .1111 

gas  and  oil E .411 

heat  and  effects E .411 

waterpower,  wheels,  motors E .2111 

Indicator,  steam  engine E .1111 

Jonval  turbine  water  wheels E .2442 

Low  water  alarm,  boiler E .183 

Lubricating  oil  production E .484 

Lubricating  instruments E .119 

Marine  boilers E .1822. 

engines E .12 

steam  engineering E .12 

Mechanical  stokers E .184 

Mill  dams E .23 

Oil  burners,  boiler  E .184 

distribution E .485 

filters E .484 

flow  in  pipes E .4851 

manufacture E .482 

pipe  lines E .4852 

presses E .484 

purifiers E .484 

refining E .484 

separators ,E  .1113 

stills E . 484 

testing  machines E .411 

tests,  lubricating E .411 

wells E .483 

Packing. 

Air,  gas,  and  oil. . E .4852 

General E .0852 

Hydraulic E .2852 

Steam. ...  E .1852 

Penstocks E .234 

Pneumatic  despatch  apparatus E .4852 

Pressure  gauges,  air,  gas,  and  oil E .4852 

steam  E .1852 

water E .2852 

Regulators,  air,  gas,  and  oil E .4852 

steam E .1852 

water E .2852 


14 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


Prony  brake E .1111  ;E  .2111 

Pumps. 

Boiler  feed  (power) E .2561 

Centrifugal E .2561 

Ejecting  (power) E .2563 

Electric.  ( See  Electric  Pumps.) 

Fire  (power) E .254 

Hand E .252 

Hydraulic  pressure  (power) E .253 

Steam.  ( See  Steam  Pumps.) 

Tank  (power)  E .2561 

Vacuum  (power) E .2562 

Wrecking  (power) E .2563 

Purifiers. 

Feedwater E .1113 

Gas E .482 

Oil E .484 

Pyrometers E .411 

Recording  pressure  gauges. 

#Air,  gas,  and  oil E .4852 

General E .0852 

Steam E .1852 

Water E .2852 

Records  of  tests  of  boiler  and  engines E .1111 

gas  and  oil E .411 

heat  and  effects E .411 

water  power,  wheels,  motors E .2111 

Reducing  motions,  engine  indicator E .1111 

Revolution  counters  and  registers E .119 

Rod  packing E .1852 

Ropeways,  steam  hoisting E .167 

Scale,  boiler E .1113 

Screw  engines E .12 

Sewage  pumps E .155 

Shavings  and  dust  collectors. . . E .4852 

Smoke  consumption,  prevention E .481 

Sluices,  water E .235 

Solar  engines E .442 

Speed  indicators  and  registers E .119 

Steam  air  compressors E .153 

boiler  cleaners E .1113 

cocks E .183 

construction,  general E .1821 

corrosion E .1113 

coverings E .1852 

damper  regulators E .184 

deterioration E .1113 

economy E .1113 

explosions E .112 

feeders,  coal  and  oil E .184 

feed- water  heaters E .1113 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


15 


Steam  boiler  purifiers E .1113 

fittings E .183 

fronts E .1826 

fuel  economizers E .1113 

gauges E .183 

grate  bars E .1826 

incrustation. E .1113 

life E .1113 

low- water  alarms E .183 

oil  burners E .184 

scale E .1113 

settings E .1826 

/stokers E .184 

tube  cleaners E .1113 

water  cocks  and  gauges E .183 

Steam  Boilers E .182 

Cornish E .1826 

Externally  fired E .1826 

Fire-box,  locomotive E .1823 

marine E .1822  . 

stationary E .1826 

French E .1826 

Galloway E .1826 

Horizontal E .1826 

Internally  fired E .1826 

Lancashire E .1826 

Locomotive E .1823 

Plain  cylinder E .1826 

Portable E .1823 

Return  Hue E .1826 

Return  tubular,  marine E .1822 

stationary E .1826 

Safety E .1826 

Scotch,  marine E .1822 

stationary E .1826 

Sectional E .1826 

Tubular,  locomotive,  etc E .1823 

marine E .1822 

stationary E .1826 

vertical E .1826 

Water- tube E .1826 

Steam  condensation,  cylinder E .1112 

in  pipes  E .1851 

Steam  conduits E .1852 

coverings E .1852 

dredges E .167 

dynamos E .167 

economy E .111 

efficiency,  engine E .1112 

engine  accidents E .112 

back-pressure  relieving  apparatus E .1113 


16 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


Steam  engine  failures 

fly-wheel  accidents 

indicators 

lubricator^ 

revolution  counters 

shaft  failures 

speed  counters  and  registers 

tests 

Steam  Engines. 

Automatic  shaft  governor 

Blowing 

Compound 

Condensing 

Corliss  type 

Elevator 

Fire 

Hoisting 

Horizontal 

Locomotive 

Marine 

Multi-cylinder 

Non-condensing 

Plain  slide  valve 

Portable 

Releasing  valve  gear 

Rolling  mill. . . . 

Single  acting,  double  cylinder. . . 

Sewage 

Slide  valve 

Stationary 

Traction 

Vertical 

Water  works 

Steam  Engineering 

locomotive 

marine 

Steam  exhaust  heads 

expansion 

generation 

heating 

high-pressure  efficiency 

hoisting  machinery 

independent  condensing  apparatus. 

injectors 

jacketing 

jet  condensing 

joint  packing / 

loop 

lubricators 

packing 

pipe  coverings 


E .112 
E .112 
.E  .1111 
,E  .119 
E .119 
E .112 
.E  .119 
E .1111 


.E  .163 
.E  .152 

.E  .12,  .155,  .163,  .164,  etc. 
E .12,  .155,  .163,  .164,  etc. 
.E  .164 
E .167 
.E  .154 

.E  .157  ; E .86 
.E  .162,  .163,  etc. 

E .13 
.E  .12 

E .12,  .155,  .163,  .164,  etc. 
E .12,  .155,  .163.,  164,  etc. 
.E  .162 
.E  .13 
.E  .164 
.E  .167 
.E  .165 
.E  .155 
.E  .162 
.E  .16 
.E  .13 

.E  .162,  .163,  etc. 

E .155 
.E  .1 
.E  .13 
.E  .12 
.E  .1852 
.E  .1112 
.E  .18 

.E  .1852,  697. 

.E  .1112 
.E  .167 
.E  .1562 
.E  .1561 
.E  .1112 

. E .12,  .155,  .163,  .164,  etc. 

.E  .1852 

.E  .1852 

.E  .119 

.E  .1852 

.E  .1852 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


17 


Steam  piping 

power  vs.  water  power 

pressure  regulators 

Steam  pumps. 

Air 

Boiler  feed  

Circulating 

Condensing  apparatus 

Deep  well 

Injectors 

Mining 

Sinking 

Sugar 

Tank 

Vacuum 

Wrecking 

Steam  refrigerating  machinery 

road  machines 

ship  propulsion 

shovels  and  dredges 

street  mains 

superheating 

surface  condensing 

transmission 

traps 

turbines  

valves 

Stokers,  mechanical 

Street  mains. 

Gas  and  oil.  .........  

General 

Steam 

Water 

Sugar  pumps 

Systems  of  testing  boilers  and  engines 

gas  and  oil 

heat  and  effects  . . . 
water  power, 

wheels,  motors 

Tail  Races 

Thetmometers 

Thermometric  scales 

Traps,  steam 

Turbine  water  wheels 

Undershot  water  wheels 

Vacuum  pumps. 

Steam 

Power 

Valvea. 

Air,  gas,  and  oil. 

General 


.E  .1852 
.E  .1114 
.E  .1852 

.E  .1562 
.E  .1561 
E .1562 
.E  .1562 
E .1563 
,E  .1561 
.E  .1563 
.E  .1563 
E .1562 
,E  .1561 
.E  .1562 
.E  .1563 
E.  153 
E .13 
.E  .12 
.E  .167 
,E  .1852 
.E  .1112 

E .12,  .155,  .163,  .164,  etc. 
.E  .185 
.E  .1852 
E .166 
E .1852 
.E  .184 


.E.  .4852 
.E  .0852 
.E  .1852 
.E  .2852 
.E  .1562 
.E  .1111 
.E  .411 
.E  .411 

.E  .214 
.E  .235 
.E  .411 
.E  .411 
.E  .185 
.E  .244 
.E  .243 

.E  .1562 
.E  .2562 

.E  .4852 
.E  .0852 


2 


18  A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASiSlIICATIuN  AND  INDEX. 


Valves. — Continued. 

Steam  E .1852 

Water E .2852 

Ventilating E .481 

(See  697.  ; E .1852.) 

Vertical  engines.  ( See  Steam  Engine.) 

Water  cocks,  boiler E .188 

discharge  orifices E .2851 

flow  in  pipes E .2851 

friction  loss  in  pipes E .2851 

gauges,  boiler E .188 

hammer E .2851 

meters E .245 

motors E .245 

nozzles E .2851 

Water  power  economy  E .211 

measurement E .2111 

transmission E .2852 

tests E .2111 

utilization  of  ocean  waves E .221 

vs.  Steam  power . . . E .1114 

pressure  engines E .245 

reservoirs  E .2115 

storage E .2115 

supply E .2115 

tumbling  bays E .2115 

weirs E .2115 

wheels E .24 

works  pumps E .155 

Wells,  well  boring,  etc. 

Artesian E .2115 

Gas  and  oil E .488 

Wind  engines, 

mills E .446 


Who  says:  “Well,  that  is  a useless  lot  of  machinery  ! Why 
don’t  you  have  an  alphabetical  index,  and  go  direct  from  that  to 
what  you  want  ? What  advantage  is  there  in  ricochetting 
through  your  classification  tables  ? ” I did  not  suppose,  before 
I sent  out  my  recent  circular,  above  referred  to,  that  there  was 
a man  at  large  in  this  broad  land  who  needs  to  be  convinced 
of  the  advantages  of  classing  in  some  shape  any  form  of  knowl- 
edge or  material  that  he  expects  to  use ; of  marshalling  in  line 
all  the  elements  of  a subject  and  defining  in  some  way  their 
established  relationship,  so  that  he  can  study  the  general  sub- 
ject or  pick  out  any  element  of  it  without  going  through  it 
in  detail.  While  I have  discovered  a few  such,  I am  confirmed 
in  the  belief  that  the  classification  question  is  one  of  manner 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


19 


and  extent  and  not  of  being.  All  considerable  collections  of 
books,  papers,  or  materials  of  any  sort  have  to  be  handled  by 
some  comprehensive  system  of  classification,  and  the  little  col- 
lections can  be  proportionately  benefited  by  such  provision. 
There  are  numerous  schemes  in  use,  but  I believe  none  of  them 
approach  the  Dewey  system  in  the  simplicity,  exactness,  and 
clearness  with  which,  by  the  decimal  tables,  the  relationship 
between  the  component  parts  of  a subject,  and  between  the  sub- 
ject itself  and  kindred  subjects,  can  be  defined ; in  the  capacity 
to  define  accurately  the  growth  of  a subject  by  the  addition  of 
numerals  to  the  tables  or  by  the  decimal  subdivision  of  nu- 
merals already  there ; nor  in  the  mnemonic  features  which  can  be 
employed  without  sacrificing  any  essential  in  the  classification. 

The  relative  subject  index  serves  to  guide  both  the  indexer 
and  the  searcher  for  indexed  items,  by  the  same  directions,  to 
the  same  classified  exposition  of  the  subject,  if  a study  of  the 
classification  is  necessary  to  fix  the  proper  mark  for  an  item, 
and  directly  to  the  mark  itself  if  such  study  is  not  necessary. 
The  classification  mark  once  affixed  tells  what  the  item  is,  often 
more  quickly  and  clearly  than  could  the  best  definition  written 
out,  and  it  also  tells  where  the  item  is  to  be  put  or  where  it  is 
to  be  found,  with  all  the  other  items  that  the  collection  con- 
tains of  the  same  definition.  If  the  classification  tables  be 
established  by  expert  knowledge,  the  work  of  properly  indexing 
and  filing  successive  items  can,  by  the  aid  of  the  subject  index 
and  under  competent  direction,  be  turned  over  to  very  ordinary 
intelligent  labor.  If  the  expert  wishes  to  do  his  own  indexing, 
the  time  he  saves,  in  simply  affixing  a number  to  define  the  sub- 
ject and  place  in  the  collection  of  the  item,  is  worth  his  consid- 
eration. When  it  is  desired  to  consult  the  information  con- 
tained in  the  collection  on  a given  subject,  the  entire  resources 
of  the  collection  on  that  subject  can  be  withdrawn  from  01- 
re  turned  to  the  collection  at  once  and  intact. 

So  far  as  I have  examined  and  understood  the  question,  the 
leading  competitor  of  the  De^wey  system  is  the  alphabetical  sub- 
ject index  with  direct  references  to  shelf,  book  and  page,  or  file 
numbers.  This  plan  leaves  the  indexer  largely  to  his  own 
resources  with  each  item.  If  the  item  requires  study  to  fix  its 
place,  his  familiarity  with  the  subject,  his  shelf  or  file  list,  or 
the  scattered  alphabetical  headings  that  may  occur  under  the 
subject,  must  guide  him.  When  the  place  is  found  and  the  shelf 


20 


A GENE  UAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX 


or  file  number  written  on  the  item,  the  index  heads  for  each 
item  must  be  written  out,  or  hunted  up  in  the  index  of  the  en- 
tire collection  and  reference  to  each  item  added  in  detail.  The 
item  is  placed  in  the  collection,  not  with  reasonable  certainty 
alongside  all  the  items  the  collection  contains  of  a given  defini- 
tion, but  sometimes  according  to  the  accidents  of  orthography 
or  the  assignment  of  shelf  numbers.  When  it  is  desired  to  use 
the  material  the  alphabetical  index  of  the  entire  collection  must 
be  handled  for  each  item,  and  when  found  the  items  must  be 
gathered  one  by  one  from  their  places,  and  then  redistributed 
in  order  to  be  put  where  they  can  again  be  found. 

It  is  proposed  here  to  work  out,  not  a classification  for  the 
specialist  in  any  department,  but  a general  scheme  which  can 
be  used  by  all,  for  all  their  material  except  that  which  concerns 
the  particular  specialty  of  each,  though  the  system  is  perfectly 
adapted  to  carrying  out  and  defining  the  remotest  details.  That, 
of  course,  is  a work  that  each  individual  or  body  of  specialists 
may  carry  as  far  as  it  might  be  thought  profitable  beyond  a 
point  at  which  it  would  cease  to  be  generally  useful.  For  in- 
stance, I have  made  a detailed  classification  of  the  work  of  a 
great  manufacturing  industry  in  which  I have  defined  in  this 
way  the  component  groups,  motions,  and  parts  of  one  of  the 
decimal  subdivisions  under  textile  machinery ; namely,  looms. 
It  may  be  profitable  in  this  connection,  and  as  a specific  illus- 
tration of  its  general  working,  to  notice  how  the  decimal  system 
meets  some  of  the  requirements  of  that  use. 

In  the  draughting  room  we  used  to  depend  on  a subject  index 
catalogue,  with  references  to  the  numbers  of  drawers  in  which 
certain  subjects  were  kept.  Every  little  while  some  drawer 
would  get  full,  and  a part  of  its  contents  would  be  moved  to  new 
quarters.  Then  it  became  necessary  to  remark  the  drawer 
number  on  the  removed  drawings,  and  to  hunt  up  and  remark 
the  corresponding  references  in  the  drawing  index  book,  and  on 
the  pattern  number  list  cards.  With  the  decimal  system,  each 
drawing  is  marked  as  soon  as  its  character  is  fully  determined 
with  its  classification  number,  which  takes  the  place  of  a general 
title  on  the  drawing,  and  fixes  once  for  all  its  place  in  the  col- 
lection. The  drawings  are  filed  in  manilla  portfolios  which 
contain  a dozen  or  so  sheets  and  which  are  marked  with  the 
classification  number  and  filed  numerically  by  it.  When  a port- 
folio gets  too  full  its  subject  is,  if  necessary,  further  subdivided 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


21 


decimally,  or  the  drawings  are  divided  by  customers’  names  or 
some  other  alphabetical  distinction  into  two  or  more  portfolios 
of  the  same  class  number.  No  subject  index  book  is  kept.  The 
drawings,  with  the  general  relative  index  of  the  system,  are  their 
own  index.  No  change  is  ever  made  in  the  reference  marks  on 
the  drawing  or  pattern  number  cards,  except  to  add  a figure  to 
the  decimal  mark,  which  happens  if  at  all  to  but  few  drawings  at 
one  time,  and  which  is  not  therefore  a discouraging  job.  No  new 
place  for  a subject  ever  has  to  be  learned.  When  a place  in  the 
collection  gets  too  crowded,  it  only  costs  purely  manual  labor 
to  move  along  and  provide  for  indefinite  expansion  at  any  point. 
When  a new  subject  comes  up,  its  classification  mark  is  estab- 
lished beside  related  subjects  or  as  an  extended  decimal  of  the 
subject  of  which  it  is  a natural  offshoot. 

These  things,  while  they  go  far  toward  demonstrating  the 
practical  usefulness  of  the  system  for  the  purpose,  are  but 
incidental  to  the  main  object  in  view,  which  is  still  in  course  of 
development,  the  provision  of  economical  means  of  handling 
lists  of  motions  and  groups  of  parts  in  making  up,  pushing, 
and  tracing  detailed  orders  in  the  shop  and  in  keeping  cost  of 
manufacture. 

Now,  specifically,  what  is  the  use  of  a general  engineering 
classification  ? 

It  could  be  made  a time  and  energy  saver  to  all  engineers  who 
have  established  a habit  of  filing  notes,  catalogues,  clippings, 
etc.,  in  that  it  enables  them  to  turn  over  to  assistants  the  work 
of  classifying,  indexing,  and  filing  ordinary  material;  or,  if  one 
wishes  to  do  the  work  himself,  in  that  it  reduces  it  to  a simple 
and  manageable  form.  It  would  stimulate  students  and  others 
to  acquire  that  habit,  which  is  in  itself  an  educator,  and  which 
might  lead  to  the  collection  and  filing  of  valuable  data  which 
would  without  such  incentive  pass  out  of  mind  and  be  forgotten, 
or,  in  the  absence  of  classification,  pass  into  such  a voluminous 
alphabetical  tangle  that  it  might  better  be  forgotten.  Is  the 
man  here  who  once  started  an  index  book,  or  card  or  envelope 
system  of  collecting  notes,  etc.,  of  his  reading  and  experience, 
and  who  finally  gave  it  up  and  now  keeps  no  such  record  because 
it  was  too  much  work  for  the  prospective  return  he  could  see, 
or  because  the  material  got  so  “ numerous  ” or  so  badly  arranged 
that  he  could  find  nothing  in  it  when  he  wanted  it  ? This  thing 
would  have  helped  him  to  a generous  success. 


22  A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 

The  system,  worked  out  in  such  form  as  to  come  into  gen- 
eral individual  use,  would  add  the  element  of  interchangeability 
to  independent  collections,  which  would  thereby  become  of  per- 
manent and  enhanced  value,  instead  of  becoming  of  more  or  less 
impaired  value  when  they  pass  from  the  hands  of  their  collec- 
tors. Worked  out  in  a form  to  commend  itself  for  the  uniform 
indexing  of  engineering  libraries,  periodicals,  and  the  transactions 
of  engineering  societies,  the  usefulness  of  the  system  would  be 
multiplied  manyfold  over  what  would  be  possible  confined  to 
individual  uses. 

I need  not,  I suppose,  say  that  it  is  not  desired  to  limit  dis- 
cussion to  the  Dewey  or  to  any  decimal  system.  If  some- 
thing better  can  be  developed,  let  us  have  that.  It  is  to  be 
particularly  noted  here  that  the  extended  tables  I have  given 
are  not  presented  as  complete  or  satisfactory  in  any  sense. 
I am  not  an  expert  under  any  of  the  heads  represented,  which 
I have  selected  as  better  illustrating  the  character  and  capac- 
ity of  the  scheme  than  other  groups  I have  attempted  to  ex- 
pand. It  will  be  noticed  that  many  of  the  subheads  given 
are  not  indicated  decimally.  This  is  partly  due  to  my  lack  of 
time  and  knowledge  to  define  them  properly,  and  in  some  in- 
stances to  a feeling  that  too  minutely  extended  examples  might 
prove  confusing  illustrations.  I may  here  remark  that  there 
are  in  use  some  modifications  of  the  strict  numerical  plan,  which 
tend  to  relieve  the  possible  confusion  in  long-extended  decimals, 
by  intermingling  letters  with  the  numerals.  In  one  of  these, 
the  whole  alphabet  is  added  to  the  nine  numerals,  making  thirty- 
five  classes,  divisions,  sections,  etc.  It  is  a part  of  Mr.  Dewey’s 
plan  to  leave  the  letters  to  be  used  in  place  of  figures  by  indi- 
viduals who  may  desire  to  modify  their  tables  from  the  pub- 
lished form,  which  the  publishers,  protected  by  copyright, 
insist  shall  not  be  used  without  the  published  meanings.  This 
and  other  modifications  which  need  not  be  introduced  here  will 
be  fruitful  studies  if  the  work  herein  proposed  is  undertaken. 

While  I have  contemplated  the  development  of  a classification 
of  mechanical  engineering  only,  the  present  occasion  is  auspicious 
for  the  discussion  of  a complete  general  classification  of  the 
whole  field  of  engineering,  which  can,  I think,  be  divided  much 
more  satisfactorily  by  ignoring  some  of  the  old  divisions,  par- 
ticularly “ mechanical  ” and  “ civil,”  and  substituting  new  titles 
based  on  the  nature  of  the  work.  A comprehensive  system 


A GENERAL  ENGINEERING  CLASSIFICATION  AND  INDEX. 


23 


developed  under  the  joint  auspices  of  such  representative  bodies 
as  these  associated  in  the  management  of  the  Engineering  Con- 
gress, and  kept  up  to  date  by  a standing  commission,  would 
command  a support  and  attain  a usefulness  in  the  economical 
handling  of  a great  and  growing  engineering  literature  which 
cannot  be  measured  here  and  now.  There  is  another  work  to 
which  such  an  alliance  could  give  a great  impetus.  There  has 
already  been  recommended  by  the  American  Society  of  Mechan- 
ical Engineers  a standard  size  for  trade  catalogues,  six  by  nine 
inches,  that  being  also  the  size  of  the  Society’s  Catalogue,  Index, 
and  Transactions.  The  importance  to  all  collectors,  public  and 
private,  of  a standard  uniform  size  for  pamphlets  and  circular 
publications  could  be  effectively  brought  to  the  attention  of  a 
great  and  influential  constituency  by  the  recommendation  of  the 
proposed  commission. 


